Combination cooking and fireplace unit



May 15, 1962 L. L. BRYAN COMBINATION COOKING AND FIREPLACE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6. 1959 LLOYD BRYA/Q ATTORNEY May 15, 1962 L. L. BRYAN 3,03

' COMBINATION COOKING AND FIREPLACE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1959 INVENTOR LLOYD BRYAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,494 COMBINATION COOKING AND FIREPLACE UNIT Lloyd L. Bryan, 1780 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, Calif. Filed Apr. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 804,281 2 Claims. (Cl. 126-137) The present invention relates to fireplace cooking areas and more particularly to a combination fireplace and barbecue.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a novel fireplace arangement wherein the fireplace can be used in its normal manner, and provision is made for converting the fireplace into a barbecue grill in a simple manner. This is accomplished by constructing the usual fireplace opening of approximately twice the usual height, the lower half of the opening functioning as a conventional fireplace and the upper half of the opening functioning as the cooking area. A sliding door of a size approximating one half of the opening is suitably supported to cover either the upper half of the opening leaving the fireplace area open or covering the lower half of the opening, leaving the upper area open for cooking or grilling. The usual fireplace firebox is modified to be vertically movable whereby it can be raised to serve as a firebox for the grill.

The principal advantage in the function of the present unit is in the conversion during operation feature. If the host is grilling or otherwise cooking with the door in the lower position, upon completion or after serving, he may lower the firebox and raise the door to its upper position. Logs may then be added to the charcoal fire and a conventional fireplace is then available for everyones pleasure. The reverse of this operation is also feasible. If the unit is functioning as a fireplace in which good clean wood is burning in the firebox and a decision is made to use the grille, the door may be lowered, fire adjusted to proper elevation and cooking proceed. The cooking grill may be removable if desired.

Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an indoor barbecue cookery at which the cooking elevation may be counter height, that will be attractive in appearance, easy and economical to install and in which all standard barbecue accessories now available such as grills, rotisseries, grill hoods and roasting or smoking, and means for raising or lowering either the grill or the firegrate to efiectively control the amount of heat or rate of cooking may be used.

Also, with no increase in wall space, the invention provides a conventional fireplace which is attractive, convenient to use and in which all standard fireplace accessories such as andirons, screens, dampers, circulating heaters and the like, may be used.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a unit which may be converted to the use of a fireplace or barbecue cookery at the will of the user.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a unit as described above which can be installed when the fireplace is built or which is readily adapted for installation in a home already built.

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FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1; 7

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail view of the door operating means; and

FIGURE 6 is anenl-arged detail view of one form of door holding means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, numeral 10 designates the brick facing of the wall in which thefireplace is to be installed. The fireplace opening indicated by numeral 11 may be of any conventional design but differs in height and is approximately twice the height of the usual fireplace opening. The fireplace also includes the usual flue and damper indicated generally by numeral 12.

The present unit consists of a pair of slides 13, each of which comprises a strip of sheet metal of light gauge bent upon itself to form a doubled portion 14 and a channel portion 15, for receiving the vertical edges of a sliding door or panel 16. The slides are slightly longer than the height of the fireplace opening and are secured to the inner face of the brick facia by suitable securing means 17 passing through the doubled portion 14 with channels opening toward the fireplace as seen in FIGURE 4. The slides are mounted so that they are not visible from the front as seen in FIGURE 1.

For purpose of illustration, the door or panel 16 is shown as formed of a composite layer comprising a layer of fibre glass 18 and an outer face 19 formed of tile or other decorative material. To hold the door insert 19 or any other decorative material. To hold the door in its raised position, the channel member 15 may be provided with a number of openings 20 to receive a pin 21 anchored to 14 by a chain 22 as shown in FIGURE 6. Should the door panel become too heavy because of the decorative tile used, pulleys 23 may be mounted in the upper end of channel 15, to receive the wires 24, one end of which is secured to the upper corner of the door panel and the other end secured to suspended sash weights 25 as seen in FIGURE 5.

As seen in FIGURE 3, a firebox 26 is suitably supported on a screw jack lift 27 operated by a crank 28 mounted in the lower front wall of the fireplace. The screw jack is mounted in a housing 29 formed in the floor 30 of the fireplace hearth and is such length to permit the firebox to be raised in the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 3. A frame member 31 is suitably mounted in the fireplace between the fireplace area and the cooking area for removably supporting a grill 32. A pivoted hood 33 is supported on the frame 31 and may be used when desired. If desired, a ventilating fan may be provided for producing a forced draft or for ventilating the cooking odors.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the present unit is quite apparent. When the door panel is in the raised position, it covers the cooking area and the fireplace area may be used in the usual manner without the presence of the cooking area being apparent. To use the cooking area, the firebox is raised to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 3, and the door panel lowered as shown in FIGURE 1.

While I have shown one embodiment of the invention for illustrative purposes, it is clear that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown except as may be required by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: v

1. A fireplace formed in a wall having an entrance defined by an opening in said wall, a cooking grill substantially horizontally mounted in said fireplace substantially midway of said opening thereby defining a conventional in a completely raised position for closing the cooking 10 area and leaving the fireplace acrea open.

2. A fireplace as defined in claim 1, a firebox mounted in said fireplace area, and means for raising said firebox to a position adjacent the underside of the cooking grill.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mannheimer June 7,

Derden June 8,

Vuncannon Feb. '12.,

I FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 16,

Great Britain July 11, 

